The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines will be participating in this year’s Asia Diving Expo (ADEX) 2023, to be held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore from March 31 to April 2.
ADEX is the longest-running consumer dive and trade show in Asia, bringing together diver enthusiasts, industry professionals and marine conservationists from around the world. This year’s event is expected to draw close to 30,000 attendees.
Philippines hopes to attract more tourists and investments to the country’s dive industry at ADEX this year
The three-day trade event will feature a range of activities, including diving and underwater photography exhibitions, and a range of talks about the latest conservation efforts and initiatives of the tourism boards across the world on protecting the oceans and marine life.
There will also be networking opportunities with fellow divers and industry professionals, with opportunities to learn about the different dive operators and dive tourism packages and services as well as the latest diving equipment, gear and technology.
The TPB’s participation in ADEX this year sees its biggest contingent ever with 21 participants from the dive industry and airlines, as it seeks to further drive more tourists and investments to the country’s dive industry, and create additional collaborative developmental and promotional opportunities with dive communities and stakeholders.
TPB chief operating officer, Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, remarked that the Philippines is a “must-visit destination for any diver or traveller looking for an amazing, educational and unforgettable experience”.
“For our island based and archipelagic economy, pursuing sustainable tourism is the way for safeguarding our resources, and our means of livelihood. That is why we at the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines ensure that conservation and sustainable development are incorporated into every tourism activity that we craft,” she added.
Attendance at ILTM Asia Pacific this June at Marina Bay Sands Singapore is expected to inch close to 2019 levels, with some 1,000 industry specialists set to gather at the luxury travel tradeshow from June 19 to 22.
Comparing the 2022 edition with the upcoming event, Alison Gilmore, portfolio director for ILTM Worldwide with RX Global, said last year’s show “was buzzing, but this year brings the buzz to new levels of travel expertise and boundless energy”.
ILTM Asia Pacific 2023 will see some 1,000 industry specialists attending the luxury travel tradeshow
Gilmore revealed that the tradeshow has seen confirmation from “luxury travel suppliers in all shapes and sizes” – from smaller independent brands like Jawakara, a new high-end family friendly and multi-generational Maldives island, and small niche hotel chains such as Airelles, to established hospitality companies such as Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Luxury travel advisors can also expect to tour the world across a single show floor, as destinations such as Fiji, Italy, Portugal and South Korea commit to presence at ILTM Asia Pacific 2023.
Sellers will get to meet new buyers this June, with 44 per cent of luxury travel advisors in attendance being new to the Asia-Pacific event. In all, the majority representation (60 per cent) will be from Australasia. Nine per cent will hail from South-east Asia; eight per cent from China; seven per cent each from India and Hong Kong; six per cent from Taiwan; and three per cent from Japan.
Abundant opportunities for interaction have been designed for sellers, buyers and media representatives. Besides three days of pre-scheduled meetings on the show floor, there will also be networking events and parties every night as well as a VIP media programme.
Speaking to TTG Asia, Gilmore said: “As we hear continually, the success of ILTM is not just the appointments on the show floor, but the many different occasions where people can connect – often informally or unofficially, where we understand many business conversations are conducted, forming the basis of many new business relationships. ILTM Asia Pacific will continue to focus on the power of human connection to facilitate the impending boom in luxury travel business across the region.”
Other highlights at ILTM Asia Pacific 2023 include the unveiling of the event’s research, Decoding the Luxury Travellers Mindset; Spotlight China, during the Opening Forum at the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore on June 19; and a designer pop-up led by Design Orchard Retail Showcase, a project spearheaded by the Singapore Fashion Council, Enterprise Singapore, JTC and Singapore Tourism Board to groom new and emerging local designers for overseas business ventures.
The study is the third edition of ILTM’s research series, Buzz versus Reality, which is aimed at “separating fact from fiction when it comes to luxury travel trends”, according to Gilmore.
She added: “The last three years have seen the travel industry confronted by unique and unprecedented challenges, giving way to predictions, opinions, and forecasts. And as China moves out of a prolonged period of lockdown, the travel industry needs to understand which trends are being reflected and which are mere speculation.”
Decoding the Luxury Travellers Mindset; Spotlight China is produced in collaboration with affluent research specialist Altiant. Surveying high-net-worth individuals from across China, the research explores recent and planned travel behaviour, and seeks to answer questions regarding their key travel considerations, spend intentions, desired destinations, expectations for luxury travel experiences, and more.
“The report will be a unique and reliable barometer of luxury sentiment and will be vital reading for luxury travel professionals who want to understand the mindset of the luxury Chinese traveller today,” remarked Gilmore.
The full report will be available for download from the ILTM App and website on June 20.
Kagi Maldives Spa Island has introduced the new Say When Wellness package which comprises a variety of wellness options, culinary experiences, ocean adventures, bucket list adventures and more.
Priced from £3,509 (US$4,295) per pax, the package includes five nights’ accommodation with daily breakfast, a complimentary cocktail, two three-course dinners, and three lunches.
Water sports offered at Kagi Maldives are non-motorised to preserve the nature of the house reef
Guests can choose two Indian Ocean experiences such as scuba diving, glass-bottom kayaking, paddle boarding, and windsurfing, as well as three wellness experiences including personal training, private Pilates and yoga, one-on-one sound healing, massages, manicures, pedicures, detoxifying bath rituals and more.
The 50-villa boutique resort located in the North Malé Atoll is surrounded by one of the Maldives’ most diverse and untouched house reefs, home to over 150 different marine creatures.
All water sports offered at the resort are non-motorised, part of Kagi’s sustainability commitment to preserve the nature of the house reef.
Capella Hotels and Resorts has named Marc von Arnim as general manager of Capella Sydney.
With over 20 years in the hospitality industry and various senior leadership positions, he will spearhead all pre-opening efforts for Capella Sydney, including recruitment and training, operations and curating experiences.
Before joining Capella Hotel Group, he was general manager of Park Hyatt Sydney.
Merlin Entertainments has appointed Susan Ang as the new divisional director for Asia-Pacific, Midway, effective April 1.
With over 25 years of global experience in the tourism industry, Ang will lead the overall management, regional strategies and financial responsibilities for Merlin’s 32 attractions across region, including Merlin’s 22 attractions across Asia and 10 attractions in Australia and New Zealand.
She will be based in Singapore, with regular visits to the region, including Australia, New Zealand and China.
Green efforts are a pricey but necessary long-term commitment
Technology improvements in food waste management can help hotels reach circular economy goals
SHATEC – The International Hotel & Tourism School (Singapore) placed environmental sustainability at the core of its one-day Hospitality Conference 2023 on Friday, with industry leaders and subject matter experts brought in to discuss achievements, challenges and learning points in sustainability management.
Speakers at the two keynote panels, moderated by TTG Asia Media’s group editor, Karen Yue, were unanimous about the commercial benefits of pursuing a sustainability strategy, stating that the payback goes beyond a positive reputation.
Tourism and hospitality opinion leaders in Singapore share learnings in their corporate environmental sustainability journey
Jesper Palmqvist, senior director Asia Pacific, STR, pointed to higher chances of attracting funding from financial institutions that prioritise green projects, long-term efficiencies leading to better operating profits, stronger appeal among a generation of talents who reserve their loyalty for responsible employers, and more.
“We all know that this (being environmentally responsible) is the right thing to do, but let’s not be naïve – the world is still capitalist and businesses are out to make money,” he remarked.
Citing a business case for being environmentally sustainable, Choe Peng Sum, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, said securing the Green Mark Platinum certification from the Singapore Building and Construction Authority for his company’s soon-to-launch Pan Pacific Orchard resulted in a S$120 million (US$90 million) green loan, up to three per cent additional gross floor area – which he said could mean an extra floor of guestrooms, and cash incentive to lower upfront cost of energy efficiency retrofits.
John Timson, vice president sustainability and safety – South East Asia, Japan and Korea, Accor, believes that green hotels are going to be the norm, as travellers are now highly conscious of their actions impacting the environment, so much so that brown hotels – those lacking in environmental consciousness – will be forced to do drop rates to attract customers, ultimately denting their revenues.
“Guests will no longer notice the absence of plastic bottles on the table. Rather, they will notice that the hotel is (excessively cold), or the guestroom lights up like a football stadium and they cannot switch off all the lights. They will remember (these disappointments),” he said.
A costly commitment
However, sustaining a sustainability strategy has its challenges.
“There is so much value that sustainability can create, but it will also require many things that would cost more,” stated Eric Ricaurte founder and CEO of Greenview, a specialised provider of sustainability programmes for the hospitality and tourism industry, adding that it is therefore important for the chief financial officer to also be fully behind the company’s sustainability strategy.
Choe agrees that being sustainable is a pricey commitment.
Citing examples in his presentation, Choe said the construction of Parkroyal Collection Pickering, which features 1,393.5m2 of foliage covering over 200 per cent of hotel land area, took S$140 million to construct; the asset enhancement of the building taken over by Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay cost S$45 million, with new features being the adoption of more than 2,400 indoor plants and shrubs throughout the interior.
Without these biophilic features, construction costs would have been halved, he noted.
“But these are more than just aesthetics. All that greenery gives these properties a different quality of air and cools the air naturally. Reducing just two degree Celcius without the use of air-conditioning mean substantial energy savings,” he said.
Jeanette Ho, vice president, Raffles global brand strategy & strategic partnerships, Accor, remarked that sustainability efforts “cannot be seen as a cost element”, as they are part of a responsible business model.
For such a mindset change, leadership is required. She said Accor’s sustainability strategy is supported by its chief sustainability officer, chief executive officer and chief financial officer.
“Our leadership is behind it, and they drive excitement throughout the company (about our action plans) and filter objectives through to our front liners, business partners and guests,” she said.
Choe: environmental sustainability efforts are not to be belittled; the journey is tough
Hesitant first steps
Beyond cost concerns, Ricaurte also recognises that business owners and leaders are held back from the “unknown” surrounding sustainability.
“I’d like to cite (Albert) Einstein here: ‘As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it’. As you (embark on sustainability), you will begin to realise there are a lot of other things you need to learn and do. That’s why people hesitate,” Ricaurte explained.
Ho added that difficulties also stem from having to get multiple properties and staff aligned with all the sustainability standards and key actions in the company’s sustainability strategy.
Accor’s Planet21 programme, which spans 10 years, covers about 150 different standards. It is executed across more than 5,000 hotels worldwide and involves half a million colleagues.
According to Chen Wenjie, associate director of Building System & Diagnostics, a consultancy agency that advises on environmentally sustainable design and construction of buildings and the built environment, the best efforts are made right from the start, when a hotel building is being designed, as everything from materials used and building layout can impact the eventual green processes the hotel owner and/or operator hopes to implement in the course of business.
“Retrofitting a building for sustainability will be an even more costly and time-consuming effort,” Chen added.
However, as 80 per cent of Singapore hotels were built before sustainability and the circular economy concept became mainstream considerations, Choe said hotel owners have to invest in hardware improvements to support green goals.
Choe found convincing owners to put down millions on refurbishments tended to be easier when the outcomes were visible and would directly benefit guests, such as upgraded guestrooms and ballrooms.
“If you tell the owner that you need S$40 million to retrofit the hotel and half of the money is going into areas where guests cannot see, such as new piping, new wiring, new-gen inverter cooling systems, it is tough. These improvements are all behind the scene, but so necessary to improve energy consumption and waste,” he added.
In Singapore, hoteliers can get help from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in taking their first sustainability steps.
STB and the Singapore Hotel Association launched the Singapore Hotel Sustainability Roadmap in 2022 to guide lodging and accommodation businesses in the country down the green track. And to encourage industry’s participation, the NTO created the Tourism Sustainability Programme, which offers grants that hotels can utilise to trial “innovative solutions for sustainability and technology that can help them be more efficient in resource development”, detailed Tan Yen Nee director, STB’s Hospitality Division Policy & Planning Group.
“Another important function of the Tourism Sustainability Programme is its support for workforce capability development. Grants are available to support hotels in their effort to build the skillsets necessary for new and emerging sustainability roles,” said Tan.
Tan shared that industry involvement is strong, and STB will continue to help local hotels attain internationally-recognised certifications like those issued by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
“It is also important to close the sustainability loop by educating our visitors on sustainable practices, and that is something STB is doing too,” she added.
Tan: Singapore hotels can get funding and training support from the Tourism Sustainability Programme
Technology for circular economy
Accor’s Ho said the company’s sustainability approach has long moved from “compensation to contribution”, where efforts are focused on innovative ways to be carbon negative instead of just offsetting carbon.
“Our focus is very much on the circular economy,” she added.
One of the ways for hotels to maximise the lifecycle of its resources is through food waste management, suggested Jason Hoen, global sales & marketing director, Green Eco Technologies.
“Food waste contains as much energy and nutrients as food that is eaten. But most of that gets destroyed or put into landfills. The first-generation waste management systems also use a lot of valuable energy to cook the moisture out of food waste,” said Hoen.
Addressing the limitations of the old system, Green Eco Technologies’ star product, the WasteMaster, converts all food stuff as well as cutlery and packaging made of natural materials like bamboo and paper, into a versatile, nutrient-rich residual product.
“The uses of this residual product can vary. In Australia, we use it for green energy. In Singapore, we use some for green energy and turn the rest into fish food. In Dubai, it is used to improve the quality of its soil for agricultural purposes,” shared Hoen.
Singapore has existing tourism products that can keep travellers engaged for a longer duration
Stitching fragmented stories from individual attractions and industry collaboration to create meaningful and experiential stay may be key
Focus on travellers’ aspirations and attitudes as game plan
Singapore has much to offer to travellers, such as island-hopping experiences; Kusu Island pictured
Singapore looks on track to shedding its image as a convenient stopover option in Asia, as the average length of stay in the city-state grows, from 3.36 days in 4Q2019 to 4.81 in the same period of 2022, according to data from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
Dominic Ong, managing director of major inbound operator, Tour East Singapore, told TTG Asia that travellers from nearby markets are staying longer, from 3.5 nights to 4.5 on average, while those from farther away are staying put for three nights, up from just two.
Ong noted that the establishment of the two integrated resorts – Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa – and the many cruises home-ported in Singapore were reasons for the expanding length of stay.
Most tourism and hospitality stakeholders that TTG Asia spoke to is of the opinion that stronger marketing efforts to position Singapore as an attractive mono-destination can emerge from building a riveting narrative from existing tourism products.
Benjamin Cassim, senior lecturer, diploma in hospitality and tourism management, Temasek Polytechnic, cited two key qualities of successful mono-destinations: a full-fledged resort-type experience or a large land mass where each area offers unique experiences and interactions for visitors.
Cassim believes that the city-state’s existing basket of visitor experiences can convince visitors to spend five to six days in Singapore and enjoy a range of personalised encounters, unlike anywhere else in the world.
Arthur Kiong, chief executive officer, Far East Hospitality, is also in favour of sophisticated programming by stitching together the currently fragmented stories from individual attractions, so that the Singapore story can be told in a multi-dimensional and multi-media sensory way to provide more compelling reasons for longer stays.
Translating existing tourism products into meaningful experiences can also incentivise extension, such as capitalising on the Southern Islands, Cassim added. He suggested an impactful island-hopping experience that provides fun, exploration and education about the local marine wildlife, comforts of a luxurious boat ride – all under the guidance of a well-informed and personable guide.
Ong suggested showcasing Singapore’s cultural diversity through “traditional art, music, dance, and festivals”.
Cassim: translating existing tourism products into meaningful experiences
Speaking to TTG Asia earlier at ITB Berlin, Ong also shared Tour East Singapore’s own initiatives to present Singapore as a mono-destination worth travellers’ time and money.
“We provide at least two unique activities per itinerary that offer a deeper look into the country. Some of the activities are a dim sum dinner in Chinatown, a trishaw ride through Bugis and a bumboat cruise down the Marina Bay area. These are usually things travellers will not think of doing on their own,” Ong detailed.
In a similar vein, Far East Hospitality is in the midst of working with its business partners to create a longer stay itinerary that is also experiential, according to Kiong.
Both Cassim and Ong agree that the ongoing blended travel trend, where travellers combine leisure and work for a more efficient use of their time on the road, can be harnessed for even longer stays in Singapore.
Psychographic segregation as competitive edge
Instead of segmenting by demographics, catering to the aspirations and attitudes of travellers seemed to be a common game plan to provide the competitive advantage for Singapore to differentiate itself as an engaging mono-destination.
For example, STB has developed strategies and initiatives to realise Singapore’s ambition to be an urban wellness haven to appeal to new and emerging motivations to travel such as wellness, Keith Tan, chief executive, STB, told TTG Asia.
For the immediate term, its plan is to cater to secondary wellness and corporate travellers who are already in Singapore for other purposes and looking to enjoy wellness products as part of their itinerary.
Tan explained: “Our holistic offerings and our reputation as a “City in Nature” set us apart from other destinations more traditionally associated with wellness tourism. We will also leverage Singapore’s existing strengths – accessibility, technology, and reputation as a strong business hub.”
Key initiatives to grow the city-state’s presence in the wellness tourism space and enhance the discoverability of its holistic wellness offerings among international travellers include organising the inaugural 10-day Wellness Festival Singapore in 2022, as well as entering a partnership with ClassPass to jointly drive local and international demand for said products and services in Singapore and to provide businesses a global platform to share their offerings with local and international audiences.
Singapore is one of the key markets for ClassPass and its fifth biggest city worldwide.
Far East Hospitality also segregates its guests by psychographics. For example, The Oasia brand caters to wellness advocates while The Barrack Hotel brand is for heritage seekers, Kiong shared.
Quality tourism to attract more high-yielding guests
This year, international visitor arrivals are expected to reach around 12 to 14 million visitors, from 6.3 million in 2022.
Amid the current manpower crunch, the focus on high-yielding travellers is a more sensible approach, opined Cassim, as positive visitor experiences are generally borne out of interactions visitors have with staff and sometimes other travellers and locals.
“An outcome of staff shortage will mean fewer opportunities for interactions with visitors. Given this current scenario, Singapore would be better rewarded by focusing on boosting the yield per visitor so that the visitor to staff ratio remains at an interactive level,” he said.
To overcome the current shortage of local hospitality talent, Kiong suggested redesigning jobs and upskilling to attract and retain existing talent, as well as raise the salaries of those who perform the essential functions.
Such a move will mean making travel to Singapore more expensive, so “the only way to address this situation is to shift the industry paradigm from mass tourism to quality tourism in Singapore and attract more high-yielding guests,” emphasised Kiong. – Additional reporting by Karen Yue
Singapore-based Mystifly, a leading vertical SaaS & marketplace provider for the airline industry, has raised Pre Series B funding of S$8 million (US$6 million) from CSVP (Cornerstone Venture Partners) along with earlier investments from RSI Fund I (a subsidiary of Recruit Co), Jenfi and Crusade Partners among others.
With this Pre-series B funding, Mystifly plans to extend the market reach of its SaaS products and services. This investment will help speed up the growth of Mystifly’s data and technology capabilities and expand Mystifly’s global footprint, distribution & product offerings.
Mystifly has raised Pre Series B funding of S$8 million
The platform enables its B2B customers to offer personalised travel, changing the competitive parameters to way beyond price creating an industry-transforming air retailing experience for travellers. Shopping based on attributes helps airlines position themselves better and empowers customers to make more informed decisions.
“We’ve rebuilt the digital plumbing lines for airlines & intermediaries, enabling them to adapt to today’s e-commerce world,” said Rajeev Kumar, founder and CEO of Mystifly.
Airbnb’s latest data revealed that bookings in Thailand on Airbnb more than doubled last year from 2020, with Bangkok emerging as the top destination of choice for global travellers on Airbnb.
The capital city was listed as the number one trending destination globally for Airbnb guests in 3Q2022, and number five on Airbnb’s list of top trending global travel spots in 2023.
Bangkok, pictured, is the top destination of choice for global travellers on Airbnb
Bangkok was the top most booked Thai destination on Airbnb in 2022, closely followed by Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui. Driving this strong momentum are travellers from the US, with other top countries and regions of origin from the UK, Europe, and Asia-Pacific including South Korea, Australia, and China.
The resurgence in China outbound travel from 4Q2022 has been instrumental to the rebound in international travellers in Thailand, and continues to be a bright spot for the country this year.
As more people travel to reconnect with loved ones, group travel in Thailand on Airbnb surged over 300% year-on-year in 2022. This comes as family travel on the global platform increased 60% in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic, with more families booking Airbnb stays for their value and space. Nearly 90% of Airbnb stays have kitchens, 25% have three bedrooms or more, and more than a million have cribs for small children.
Airbnb is also attracting guests who stay for longer, as more global travellers enjoy greater flexibility in work and travel. In 2022, the average length of stay on the platform in Thailand was approximately five nights, and long-term stays of over 28 days more than tripled year-over-year.
As international travel rebounds post-Covid, Airbnb continues to work closely with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to drive more long-term stays in Thailand. Both parties co-launched a Live and Work Anywhere digital guide in January this year to support the growth of digital nomads in Thailand.
While domestic travel remains popular, Thais’ appetite for overseas travel has returned with more looking to explore popular hotspots. The top five overseas destinations on Airbnb by Thais in 2022 were South Korea, the US, the UK, France and Japan, with their most booked cities being Seoul, London, Paris, Melbourne and New York.
Songkran travel is also back in full swing with Airbnb guest searches for the festive period clocking more than 310% year-on-year increase, with Bangkok the most-searched destination among international guests for this period followed by Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Phuket.
On the other hand, Thai travellers are looking to resort destinations, with Pattaya ranking top in guest searches for Airbnb stays.
Notably, Australia ranks the top country of origin for international guests this Thai New Year, followed by the US, the UK, Germany and France. Closer to home, top origins of international guests include Singapore, South Korea, China and Malaysia, while over 20% of China guest searches for Thailand stays for spring travel this year were for the Songkran period.
Amanpreet Bajaj, general manager for South-east Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Airbnb, said: “With Songkran just around the corner, we are delighted to see the significant resurgence in international travel to Thailand on Airbnb. The growing excitement among global travellers to experience the country’s scenic natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, delicious local cuisine and world-class Thai hospitality, is extremely encouraging and signals strong tourism recovery.”
UAE-based Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has launched Green Collection, bringing under one umbrella nearly 200 hotels, resorts and palaces – operated by GHA hotel brands – that are demonstrating their commitment to protecting the planet and its people.
Every Green Collection property has attained at least one certification from a globally-recognised environmental organisation, with EarthCheck, Green Growth 2050, Green Key and Green Globe among the 15 leading certification bodies represented.
Hotels under GHA’s Green Collection are certified from a globally-recognised environmental organisation; Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore pictured
Each certification requires hotels to meet the highest international standards for sustainability initiatives and performance, with regular third-party audits conducted to retain certification.
Properties in the Green Collection are taking action in line with Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) guidelines, which encompass the implementation of effective sustainable planning; maximising social and economic benefits for local communities; enhancing the cultural heritage of destinations where they operate; and reducing negative environmental impact.
The Green Collection accounts for almost one-quarter of the GHA Discovery’s portfolio, and includes brands such as Capella Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotels, Parkroyal Collection, Avani Hotels & Resorts, and Niccolo Hotels.
GHA CEO’s Chris Hartley said: “(Green Collection) also helps travellers, including the 24 million members of our GHA Discovery loyalty programme, to make more informed travel decisions based on their values and priorities, which today include hotel sustainability credentials and treading as lightly as possible in the destinations they visit.
“By launching Green Collection, we are reiterating our alignment to the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), which guide the development of the hospitality industry for a more sustainable future.
“Our overarching philosophy is to treat people and the planet with the utmost respect, creating a more resilient, equal, and sustainable global ecosystem, and the efforts of our Green Collection properties are a testament to this,” said Hartley.
To celebrate the launch of the Green Collection, GHA will donate US$5 to the charities it supports for every Green Collection hotel booking made.